Statistics Regarding Education in U.S. Schools: Insights on Educational Institutions within the USA

In the United States, the education landscape is vast and diverse, catering to over 128,961 public and private K-12 schools and approximately 48.2 million students, as projected for the fall of 2025.

The distribution of students across regular school districts varies significantly, with the plurality of districts having between 1,000 and 2,499 students. However, the average public school size differs depending on the location, with city schools averaging 560 students, suburban schools having 638 students, town schools boasting 436 students, and rural schools averaging 372 students.

In terms of funding, the U.S. Census Bureau data shows that education funding per pupil has risen by about $1,800 in the last decade, with an average of $14,347 spent to educate each student in fiscal year 2021. State and local governments provide the majority of funding, accounting for about 89% of the total expenditure, while the federal government contributes approximately 10.5%.

New York has the highest per-pupil expenditures in the nation, spending $26,571 per student, while Idaho spends the least at $9,053 per student.

The teaching profession remains predominantly female, with 76.8% of teachers being female, according to 2020-21 numbers from NCES. The average public school principal salary was $113,470 in 2021-22 dollars, while the average superintendent salary was almost $170,000 in 2024-25, according to surveys conducted by AASA.

Interestingly, about 57% of female superintendents, and almost 45% of male superintendents have five or fewer years of experience in the position, as per a 2025 survey conducted by AASA. The racial composition of teachers reflects the diversity of the nation, with 79.9% of public school teachers being White, 9.4% Hispanic, 6.1% Black, 2.4% Asian, 1.6% Two or more races, 0.4% American Indian/Alaska Native, and 0.2% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

Teaching continues to be a profession that adapts to the times, with 28.7% of public schools offering at least one course entirely online before the pandemic, according to 2020-21 NCES data. The number of virtual schools in the U.S. stands at 691, as per 2019-20 NCES data.

The graduation rate has seen a significant increase, rising by 7 percentage points from 2011-12 to 2021-22. Moreover, over 3.71 million students, or 7.6% of all public school students, attend charter schools, according to data from three years earlier.

In the fall of 2026, there will be 3.19 million full-time-equivalent teachers in the U.S.'s public schools, according to federal projections. On average, in the fall of 2025, there will be 15.1 students assigned to a single teacher in public schools, according to NCES projections.

The national score for teacher morale was +18 on a scale of -100 to +100, according to Education Week's Teacher Morale Index in 2024-25. Union membership among teachers stands at 69.4%, as per NCES data from 2017-18.

In conclusion, the education system in the United States is a complex and dynamic landscape, continually evolving to meet the needs of its students and teachers. Despite the challenges faced, the system remains committed to providing quality education and fostering a positive learning environment for all.

Statistics Regarding Education in U.S. Schools: Insights on Educational Institutions within the USA